Better Grip, Eco-Friendly Materials: Asivana Flux Cork Yoga Mat Review

Much like a new pair of hiking boots, some yoga mats aren’t ready for large-scale challenges the day you buy them. Instead, they require a break-in period that can feel like the mat isn’t working for you initially. But if you put in a bit of effort, it pays off with a mat that offers plenty of grip for a breadth of class types. 

Investing that time and energy into getting the mat ready for regular use will make the Asivana Flux Cork Yoga Mat a go-to choice. Much like hiking boots, a properly seasoned mat will increase your comfort during different movements and make you more confident in poses that require better grip, like Downward-Facing Dog or Tree Pose.

In short: The Asivana Flux Cork Yoga Mat ($90) is part of a new wave of yoga mats that focus on sustainable materials, and cork has proven to be a favorite. It’s not hard to see why: Cork offers a soft texture without being too squishy. And when the mat is reversible, like the Asivana, you have more options for different types of classes. Cork presents some storage and transportation challenges since you can’t roll it up tightly. It’s a minor consideration compared to the advantages.

Read the full review or scope out the full list of our top yoga mats in the Best Yoga Mats buyer’s guide.

Asivana Flux Cork Mat Review

Having taught yoga for the past 15 years and taken regular classes as a student during that time, I’ve used numerous yoga mats, especially at the beginning of my practice. At that time, the majority of mats were made with materials that weren’t exactly Earth-friendly and often smelled of chemicals even after repeated use. 

Because of that, it’s a relief to see more mats made with natural materials like cork. If your only experience of cork is pulling one out of a wine bottle, or having cork coasters for your drinks, it might seem surprising that this would be an advantage for a yoga mat. However, cork provides a soft texture that can be sustainably sourced, which is the case with the Asivana Flux Cork Mat. 

Although it can be prone to cracking if not stored properly, cork is also durable as well as attractive. For example, the Asivana mat is a soothing light brown color that feels more grounding thanks to its natural materials. 

Grip

After the initial break-in period, this yoga mat has an impressive amount of grip. The company suggests gently misting the mat with water before usage as a way to improve grip quality. I tried this a few times, and then did classes where I didn’t mist to see the difference.

It’s true that the mist helps, but not to a dramatic degree, so if you don’t have access to a mister or you just don’t like a slightly damp mat, you can skip that step and still get the grip you need.

Material 

In addition to sustainably sourced cork, the Asivana Flux Cork Yoga Mat has natural rubber on the opposite side, also harvested and manufactured with sustainability in mind. Having a reversible mat is always a nice option because it extends the life of the mat, and provides more options for a class.

For instance, I flipped over to the rubber side when doing classes with plenty of floor work — like planks, side planks, and upward-facing dog — because the rubber seemed to have better cushioning for my wrists.

Length & Thickness

The standard size for a yoga mat is 68 inches long by 24 inches wide, and this mat is only slightly longer than this, by 4 inches. That’s helpful for people who may be a bit taller, or who don’t like the sensation of their feet hanging off the end of a mat while lying down.

The mat’s thickness is fairly standard at 5mm, which gives it a nice amount of cushioning without feeling squishy. That comfort extends to both sides of the mat. So whether I was practicing with the cork side up or on the rubber side, I still felt like my wrists and knees had enough support.

Portability

Although the Asivana Flux Cork Mat is 7 pounds, it feels like more. The mat is very dense, which is what makes it comfortable when you’re in a class or an outdoor setting, but that density comes as a result of weight.

If you’re only carrying the mat briefly from one place to another, this is likely not much of an issue. However, it’s not a good choice as a travel mat, or even if you have to walk more than a couple of blocks to class.

Cleaning

To maintain the life of the mat, most need cleaning after each use. You can do this by wiping it down with a damp cloth and hanging it up to dry or by using a nonscented, mild soap mixed with water and washing it down that way. However, cork mats like the Asivana Yoga Mat are antimicrobial, which means they don’t need to be cleaned as often as other types of mats.

That makes it convenient if you’re not inclined to stay on top of mat cleaning, but you do have to be a little more careful when you do clean it. Mainly, you have to lay the mat out to allow it to dry completely before you roll it up.

Also, when it’s dry and you’re ready to store the mat, you need to make sure the cork side is facing outward — this prevents the cork from cracking or creasing, which can impact the mat’s longevity.

Durability

After using the Asivana Flux Cork Yoga Mat two to three times weekly for a few months, the mat kept its shape and texture nicely. That was true even after multiple hot yoga classes where sweat was involved. 

Critiques

With a longer break-in period than some other types of mats, the Asivana Cork Yoga Mat does seem to require more effort in general for initial use. Also, the inability to roll the mat tightly or have the cork on the inside can be a challenge if you’re looking for more portability or you just want to throw this mat in your car and forget about it until the next class.

The only other notable critique is the weight. Although it’s a comfortable mat thanks to its thickness, this isn’t a mat you carry for longer distances — it’s more of a car-to-class option.

Asivana Flux Cork Mat Review: Conclusion

Overall, the Asivana Cork Yoga Mat reviewed here is an attractive, durable, and comfortable mat suitable for a wide variety of classes.

The design is particularly good for hot yoga thanks to its antimicrobial surface. However, the thickness of the mat and the softness of the cork make it a nice choice for other types of classes as well.

The Asivana Cork mat may take a bit more effort to break in and store properly compared to mats made of other types of materials, but it’s worth the investment of your time and energy.